lovingkindness
Gentle, steadfast affection
Lovingkindness is tender, compassionate affection freely given—kindness that flows from love rather than obligation.
The word appears frequently in religious contexts, especially translations of Hebrew scripture where it renders *chesed*, God's steadfast mercy toward humanity.
In Buddhist meditation, lovingkindness practice (*metta*) cultivates unconditional benevolence toward all beings: May all beings be happy; may all beings be free from suffering.
Gentle, caring quality
- gentlenessSoft, kind demeanor
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- fellow-feelingSympathetic emotional connection
concern · solicitude · warm-heartedness · soft-heartedness · humanity · goodwill · benevolence · grace
Transferring to another
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- magnanimityGenerous, noble spirit
munificence · liberality · largesse · selflessness · open-heartedness · bounty · abundance · offering
Compassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
reprieve · forbearance · leniency · amnesty · reconciliation · exoneration · remission · release
Support growth and development
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
support · comfort · protection · cherishing · fostering · guardianship · provision · guidance
Focused attention practice
- prayerAddress to deity
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
mantra · sacred · divine · unconditional · infinite · radiant · boundless · luminous
Mental comprehension of something
- attunementHarmonious receptive connection
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
perspective-taking · validation · acknowledgment · mindfulness · presence · nonjudgmental · relatability · mirroring
tenderness
Gentle, caring quality
- gentlenessSoft, kind demeanor
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- understandingMental comprehension of something
fellow-feeling · concern · solicitude · warm-heartedness · soft-heartedness · humanity · goodwill · benevolence · grace · patience
giving
Transferring to another
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
magnanimity · munificence · liberality · largesse · selflessness · open-heartedness · bounty · abundance · offering · dana
mercy
Compassion toward offenders
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
absolution · reprieve · forbearance · leniency · amnesty · reconciliation · exoneration · remission · release · healing
nurture
Support growth and development
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
attentiveness · support · comfort · protection · cherishing · fostering · guardianship · provision · guidance · solicitude
meditation
Focused attention practice
contemplation · mantra · sacred · divine · unconditional · infinite · radiant · boundless · luminous · awakening
understanding
Mental comprehension of something
- attunementHarmonious receptive connection
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
rapport · perspective-taking · validation · acknowledgment · mindfulness · presence · nonjudgmental · relatability · mirroring · receptivity
- Biblical Englishthou, thee, thy, thine, ye
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- divine mercydivine compassion, divine grace, mercy seat, agape, pardon
- Psalmspsalm, psalter, Psalm 91, psalmody, penitential psalms
- salvationredemption, eternal life, born again, justification, saving grace
lovingkindnesscruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
malice · hatred · spite · hostility · heartlessness
lovingkindnesshard-heartedness
Lack of sympathy
wrath · condemnation · mercilessness · divine wrath · judgment
lovingkindnessbrutality
Savage, merciless behavior
cruelty · abuse · maltreatment · harshness · ruthlessness
love, kind, lovely, loving, loved, lover, kindness, beloved, lovable